New Zealand Blood Service

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Typical method of blood donation

The New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) is the body primarily responsible for blood donation and related services in New Zealand.

Unlike its Australian counterpart, the NZBS is a service operated by the New Zealand Government, not the New Zealand Red Cross.

1 History
2 Duties
3 Blood collection
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

The New Zealand Blood Service was formed on 1 July 1998 with the primary responsibility of gathering and maintaining safe levels of blood needed to help in a variety of ways. The NZBS was formed under the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the collection and clinical use and distribution of blood. ^[1]

Before the formation of the NZBS the DHB was desperate for a way of harvesting and distributing blood products for separation and various operations in hospitals all over the country. Before NZBS there was nor formal information system about blood management and distribution or formal system of blood donation.

It is thought that around 80% of New Zealanders would need some type of blood donation in their lifetime but only 3% of New Zealanders donate.

[edit] Duties

The NZBS handles around 40,000 donations per year, that are processed for diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, AIDS and HTLV-1. They also separate blood in 3 groups - Red blood cells, white blood cells and blood plasma (platelets. ^[2] This is because tainted blood is harmful and potentially lethal for the recipient and it is important that all blood being taken and given is clean for use in hospital procedures and emergency situation where patients or victims require blood for survival or treatment.

The New Zealand Blood Service has over the past years, developed close working relations with similar organizations such as:

Blood testing for infectious diseases.

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service
The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service
and The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service

This is because these countries are "geographically close in either proximity or terrain" and face similar challenges in blood collecting, testing and distribution. The NZBS also modelled itself after the National Blood Service (NBS) in England and learnt through its revolutionary and evolutionary changes and providing the best methods for delivery of services. ^[3]

NZBS is the appointed body for all New Zealand blood.
NZBS is the organization who is responsible for all donations and distribution of blood in New Zealand, nationally; New Zealand's blood service is based on a voluntary basis and unpaid donations.
NZBS is responsible for all blood from collection to distribution and for other controlled human tissues.
NZBS is a not-for-profit (later changed to Hospital and Health Service) Crown Health Enterprise. ^[4]

[edit] Blood collection

A mobile blood donation unit (in Poland) similar to the vehicles used by the NZBS.

The NZBS has made a tradition of going around high schools all over New Zealand in their 'Blood Bus' and appealing to the students for their donations. This has caused a great surge in donations (although donations can only be made by people over the age of 16) and is one of the leading forms of blood harvesting in NZ.

Blood Collection centers around 6 main locations across the country, primarily Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch. But drives are also carried out in Napier and Tauranga.

They also offer a shuttle service to transport donors during blood drives held at various places like school halls and convention centres in towns and cities across New Zealand.

The NZBS also travel to businesses who agree to let blood workers to take blood from workers through special venues established by both the employer and the NZBS. ^[5]